Ava Monroe
Changes in the appearance of your fingernails can indicate an underlying health problem. Fingernail ridges, dents, and lifting are usually harmless, but they can sometimes be signs of more serious medical issues. For example, dents in your fingernails, or nail pitting, can be a symptom of nail psoriasis, which is more likely to affect your fingernails than your toenails. Beau's lines, or horizontal ridges, can be caused by various factors, including injuries, illnesses, and nutrient deficiencies. If you notice any changes in your fingernails, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any potential health concerns and receive proper treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Horizontal ridges or dents | Beau's lines |
| Vertical ridges | Sign of aging |
| Deep horizontal ridges | Malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines |
| Lines, ridges, or holes | Nail pitting |
| Spoon-shaped nails | Koilonychia, associated with iron deficiency |
| Grooves and ridges in the center of the thumb | Onychotillomania, a habit of picking at or pushing back cuticles |
| Curved nails | Clubbing |
| Color change | Disease inside the body |
| White streaks or spots | Leukonychia, often due to drugs or disease |
| Small depressions on the nail surface | Pitting, associated with psoriasis and alopecia areata |
| White lines and horizontal ridges | Arsenic poisoning |
| Blue nail | Silver intake |
| Lifting of the nail | Certain antibiotics |
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What You'll Learn
Beau's lines
Chronic conditions that interfere with blood flow to your nail matrix can also cause Beau's lines. These include hypothyroidism, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and Raynaud's phenomenon. Skin conditions, such as eczema, and vitamin or nutrient deficiencies, such as zinc or protein deficiencies, may also affect nail health and growth, leading to Beau's lines.
Mental and emotional stress can also impact nail health and growth, causing Beau's lines. Severe emotional stress, such as a divorce, death in the family, or job loss, can result in Beau's lines.
While there is no specific treatment for Beau's lines, treating the underlying cause can help prevent their recurrence once they grow out. This process typically takes about six months. Your healthcare provider may recommend applying creams or moisturisers for skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. It is important to avoid manicures, artificial nails, and harsh nail products, as these can further damage your nails.
If you notice Beau's lines and are unsure of the cause, it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider to rule out any possible health conditions.
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Nail pitting
Fingernail dents, or nail pitting, can be caused by several factors, including dermatological conditions, autoimmune diseases, and issues with the development of the layers in the superficial nail plate. The superficial nail plate, also known as the hard part of the nail, is made up of a protein called keratin, which is also found in hair and skin.
In addition to psoriasis, other autoimmune conditions that can lead to nail pitting include alopecia areata, sarcoidosis, and pemphigus vulgaris. Connective tissue disorders, such as Reiter's syndrome and osteoarthritis, can also contribute to nail pitting. Dermatitis, including atopic and contact dermatitis, is another possible cause.
If you notice pitting in your nails, it is advisable to consult a doctor or dermatologist. They will assess your medical history, perform a physical examination, and may perform a skin biopsy to aid in diagnosis. Treating the underlying cause of nail pitting is crucial to prevent recurrence.
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Spoon nails
The most common cause of spoon nails is iron deficiency anaemia, which makes your level of red blood cells lower than normal. This can be due to a variety of factors, including malnutrition, worms, gastrointestinal blood loss, or malignancy. Other causes of spoon nails include vitamin B deficiency, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hemochromatosis, lichen planus, lupus, nail-patella syndrome, hypothyroidism, Raynaud's phenomenon, nail damage, heredity, or environmental factors. People living at high altitudes, those who do manual labour, and those exposed to petroleum-based products also have a higher risk of developing spoon nails.
If you have an iron deficiency, changing your diet or taking supplements may correct and prevent spoon nails. Eating iron-rich foods, such as beans, lentils, dark chocolate, fortified foods, iron-rich fruits, leafy greens, meat, seafood, nuts, and seeds, can help increase your iron levels. Combining these iron sources with citrus fruits and vitamin C-rich foods can also help to increase iron absorption. It may take 4 to 18 months for spoon nails to go away, and seeing a dermatologist can help determine the underlying cause and provide proper treatment.
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Nail infections
Fingernail dents, or "pitting", can be a sign of nail infections. While these indentations are often harmless, they can sometimes indicate an underlying condition.
Paronychia symptoms include pain, swelling, and tenderness around the nail. The skin may be red and warm to the touch, with pus building up under it. An abscess may form and require drainage. If left untreated, the nail can become dry and brittle, with a yellow or green discolouration.
People with underlying skin conditions, such as eczema, may be more prone to developing paronychia. Additionally, those who work with water, such as bartenders and dishwashers, have a higher risk due to constant wet hands.
Certain medications have also been linked to paronychia, including retinoids, anti-cancer drugs, HIV medications, and specific antibiotics.
Most nail infections respond well to antibiotics. However, in some cases, the infection may persist or recur after treatment. Dermatologists can examine the nails and provide guidance on promoting normal nail growth.
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Trauma or damage to the nail matrix
Any change to the appearance or texture of one or more of your nails could be a sign of a nail matrix problem. Damage to the nail matrix can result from mechanical injuries, such as dropping something heavy on your finger, slamming your finger in a door, or manicuring or artificial nails. It can also be caused by chronic conditions that interfere with blood flow to your nail matrix, such as hypothyroidism, peripheral artery disease, or Raynaud's phenomenon. Skin conditions like eczema and vitamin or nutrient deficiencies, such as zinc or protein deficiency, may also affect nail health and growth.
Symptoms of damage to the nail matrix include severe pain, especially noticeable immediately after the injury. Other symptoms include changes in the appearance of the nail, such as discoloration, indentations, and cracks along the plate; nail growth disorders, such as inhibited growth or asymmetric nail growth; and onychomadesis, or peeling of the nail plate and layering of subsequent nails. In the case of very severe mechanical trauma, there may also be a hematoma under the nail plate and oozing pus.
If you suspect damage to your nail matrix, it is important to consult a specialist, such as a dermatologist, podiatrist, or surgeon, who can assess the severity of the damage and determine the appropriate treatment. In the case of severe nail matrix damage, some or all of the nail may not grow back, and there may be permanent cosmetic changes. However, with proper treatment, you can often see healthy nails grow back, even if the nail has completely detached from the matrix.
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Frequently asked questions
Fingernail dents can be shallow or deep and can be found on different parts of the nail in different directions. Dents can be caused by nail pitting, Beau's lines, and spoon nails. Spoon nails, or koilonychia, are associated with iron deficiency. Nail pitting is associated with nail psoriasis, alopecia areata, and skin cell overgrowth and buildup. Beau's lines are horizontal ridges that can be caused by trauma or damage to the nail matrix, chronic conditions that interfere with blood flow, skin conditions, zinc deficiency, protein deficiency, and severe emotional stress.
Fingernails can lift due to a condition called onycholysis, which can be caused by yeast-like organisms such as Candida. Antibiotics can also cause nails to lift from the nail bed.
If you notice dents or lifting in your fingernails, you should see a doctor or dermatologist as soon as possible. They will examine your nails and ask about any other symptoms you are experiencing. Your doctor may order blood tests if they suspect deficiencies or other health issues.
